K. Riley

For over 25 years in her Philadelphia studio, K. Riley has worked to create clothing with quiet beauty and elegance. Each garment she makes is a one of a kind or part of a limited edition. The attention to hand stitched detail and subtle color she uses reflect her interest in historic clothing and fashion.

The artist’s decorative inspiration comes from many sources including Persian miniatures, Turkish textiles, and medieval reliquaries. As she explains, “I wish to recreate the thrill of the archaeologist discovering something from the past. Historic clothing evokes a memory not only of the one who wore it, but even more of the human hand that created each stitch. My aim is to offer this sort of handwork in a contemporary piece. I want my garments to be timeless, each piece a treasured heirloom.”